Melissopalynological data obtained from a mangrove area near to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

We performed palynological analyses of honey and pollen samples from Apis m ellifera situated in a mangrove belt in Guanabara Bay, state of Rio de Jane iro, Brazil. Laguncularia racemosa is the most abundant species in this are a; some individuals of Avicennia tomentosa also occur. Pollen analysis show ed that the bees visited ruderal plant species, grasses and crops for polle n. We recognized 27 pollen types that belong to 22 plant families. The most frequent pollen types from polliniferous species belong to Asteraceae, Eup horbiaceae, Fabaceae, Myrtaceae and Arecaceae. The most frequent pollen typ es from nectariferous species were Croton sp., Eucalyptus sp,, Eupatorium m aximilianii, Gochnatia polymorpha, Mimosa bimucronata, Mimosa pudica, Spond ias sp. and Sapindaceae. Pollen from typical mangrove vegetation, except La guncularia racemosa, was rare in both honey and pollen samples. This fact r eflects the local environmental disturbance, as well as the value of the 'i nvader' plant species to bees.